It’s been a busy week for me already, so I’m taking some time out to reflect on a topic that affects us all: human rights. Whether we acknowledge the history that has allowed us the power to vote, associate, or stay healthy and work, and notwithstanding the comprehensive statement any participant nation in the UN has signed on to with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, too many forget that these rights exist for ALL, and have been gained at many times at terrible cost. For my story-writing self, this is rich fodder; for my friends who are still in limbo on whether their marriages will be recognized… or for women who seek equality under the law… or for victims of human trafficking who are stuck in slavery… the reality is that we have a long way to go before even the basics outlined in that document become universal in the way they were intended.

As my friend, critiquer, and fellow blogger Sabrina Garie points out in her post on the topic, our ability to expose these contradictions in our stories can help individual readers wrestle with those same issues. I suspect we all hope that our entertainment efforts plant a few seeds of consciousness in our audience so they’re not as automatically unconscious about how they treat their fellow beings. As another friend and blogger, Kasia James, points out, by listening to and understanding each others’ stories, we gain empathy and true compassion. In my experience, it’s when we truly internalize those characteristics that we not only gain tolerance, but also the strength to join the fight for those who still need our help in attaining what some few already have.

My experiences growing up around the globe have shown me that by and large, individuals are not that different. We’re all looking for satisfaction in our lives, work, and relationships. Differences of opinion and belief for the most part boil down to varying approaches to handle the same core issues: What is the meaning of our existence and how do we align ourselves in such a way as to maximize our capacity to fulfill our goals. As an Anne McCaffrey reader and Star Trek fan, internalizing the utopian view of a meritocracy where regardless of skill, basic needs are always met, has had a profound impact on my own sense of justice and equality. It is my hope that someday, some nuggets from my own stories push others in the same way.

Many bloggers are participating in today’s Blog Action Day; I encourage you to read what they have to say–and especially to visit Sabrina and Kasia.

I’m not a great complainer. I tend to view the world through rose-colored glasses. So when I run up against head-scratchingly bad decisions, I generally opt to raise the conversation at the next higher point of decisionmaking. Typically, another perspective resolves the issue and either helps me understand what the problem is in my viewpoint, or changes the previous decision.

This set of guidelines has served me well in my life, and has been validated in both of the first two MBA classes I’ve taken.

In particular, when you market your product as solving customer issues (in my case, that a latex-core mattress will reduce my allergy symptoms, and mine and my husband’s back problems, that had resulted from our old mattress’ springs failing), you build up a certain level of enthusiasm and good will. When your sales people assure your customers that this is a 20-year mattress, with a 10-year warranty to stand behind its quality and worth as an investment, and that despite the fact that you will sweat more because of the nature of the latex mattress, using a standard mattress pad will protect your investment sufficiently, then please, let these words be your company’s truth. After all, this is a not-insignificant investment that should only come around once every 15 to 20 years.

We loved our mattress for 5 years. We took normal and recommended care of it. And we sweated a lot. Because of this, there are sweat stains on the mattress. Because we took seriously the “do not expose to liquid” injunction, and the “it’s fine so long as you use a mattress pad” explanation, we shrugged about the stains.

Apparently, those are now the reason Sealy does NOT stand behind its warranty.

I’ve just spent the better part of two weeks going round in circles first with the store (who sent out an inspector with complicated measuring devices and confirmed that the foam had collapsed 1.5″ on one side and 2″ on the other–far outside their warranty’s parameters) and then the Sealy home office.

Their final word:

For the reasons listed in the email above and outlined in your warranty it’s never pleasant to disappoint our consumers, however we must inform you based on the limited warranty your mattress can not be replaced. We feel the decision of your retailer, The Boston Store, was the correct decision based on the information provided.

The reason I went through the second round of information trading was because there WAS NO LIQUID SATURATION. It was sweat-stained as part of normal wear and tear, after careful protection with both high-quality mattress pads and sheets.

So I’m posting this warning to any potential Sealy customers: The company is in the business of producing a product that will seem great for a short while. Just long enough to make sure you’ve sweated enough to ensure that their warranty is not worth the paper it’s printed on.

Meantime, we’re back to having back issues. Does anyone have a recommendation for a better mattress?

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB @ Should Be Reading (she also hosts some other great memes). (And I found out about it via Cabin Goddess…) Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

So. Without further ado:

I spend the night on a crumpled horse blanket against the wall, as far from the cot as I can. The blanket is damp. Whoever covered the slats when they turned this into a room did a lousy job, so the blanket’s been rained on and reeks of mildew.

This one caught my curiosity because the Hollywood machine decided to turn it into a movie: Water for Elephants, by Sara Gruen.

The writing is evocative, but nothing like what I was expecting based on the random trailers I’d seen, so it’s been sitting on my desk for a few weeks while I try to finish editing my book to meet my deadlines… So the review is likely to be a few weeks off yet.

Only through tomorrow, Wednesday February 15th, join myself and WinWitheBooks offering you 20 great books from various genres for only 99 cents! Come have fun, get a book or two or three and discover great new book bloggers to boot. Check out the posts that have been happening since the beginning of February under my Indie Promotions for what I have shared. At the bottom of each are links to other’s posts that share authors and reviews! Follow winwithebooks on Twitter (also everyone sharing the with #winwithebooks) For those that think I might slack with my food related blogging? Think again! I have had and am still have some amazing surprises up my sleeves, so sign-up for email delivery or bookmark me and remember to check back often! I have some great stuff lined up for everyone!

Here’s something I never would have expected: Having started this blog a year ago, flush with the amazement of having conquered my first NaNoWriMo challenge, I really only thought this blog would serve as an aide-memoire for myself, and maybe a roadmap for my friends and colleagues on the things I had been reading. I never expected to find a thriving community of other writers, let alone other writers who thought my blog was a fun place to stop by. Yet, here I am: @zencherry included me in her list and said she LIKES my reviews. Thank you so very much! 🙂 (AND…. why don’t the rules allow me to nominate you back??)

Zowie.

I was so excited I did a little happy dance–despite being up to my eyeballs in life and my second NaNoWriMo challenge. So it’s taken me quite a few days to formulate a response and keep the chain going…

😉

Thar Be Rules In These Waters:

Thank the person who nominated you (see above <G>). Tell 7 things about yourself so that your readers may learn more about you. Nominate 15 other newly discovered bloggers then let them know you nominated them.

Well, hey. Just so you know, I’ve always been a stopper of chain letters and such so the winners have NO obligation to pass this on whatsoever if they don’t want to and I’ll take the hooey for it. It’s my award to give out and I’m a gonna make up MY rule. How’s that? Of course, if you want to pass it out, feel free, but not under any circumstance, are you obligated. (Nods and crosses arms) Okay. Onwards.

hmmm Seven Things

I’ve lived on four of the seven continents.

As a corollary to #1, the longest I’ve lived anywhere is six years, but we just busted past that this summer, here, and don’t appear to be in any hurry to move on, so each day is a new record for longevity living in one place for me.

My father decided to divorce my mother after 42 years of marriage this past March with little explanation and no effort at reconciliation, insisted there was nobody else for him, and last weekend announced he will be remarrying in April. Family stuff has thus been a bit of a distraction for me lately.

I’ve had the joy of living with four Siberian Huskies in the years since my marriage in 1998. Two are no longer living.

I reread Anne McCaffrey‘s Dragon Riders of Pern series (all of them) at least once every two years. They *are* my happy place.

I named this blog “A Book A Day” because when there are no other distractions, I can pick up a regular-sized novel after work and finish it in time for bed.

If I pick up a book too late at night, though, I’m unlikely to put it down before I’m finished, so my book addiction has repeatedly led to some very sleepy day-afters.

So… my nominees (in no particular order)

1. Annarchy – Ann Handley is the Chief Content Officer at Marketing Profs, the professional organization I follow most closely, but her personal writings, while irregular (and, lately, rare) move me immensely.

6. Smart Bitches Trashy Books – Someone posted a review from these gals that was not only useful and insightful, but covers that whole guilty pleasure genre of books I’ve always called brain candy for myself. 😉 (And now they’re getting a new website too, so they’ll have some more bling to share with their readers after the reboot!)

7. The Daily Blog – I met Erica Lucke Dean recently through my participation in Triberr and found a woman with a deep sense of humor who doesn’t shy away from sharing some of the bumps in the road of life.

8. The Writing Life of LJ Quillyn – Here’s another Nanoer with a unique perspective and interesting posts on how life can get in the way of what you really want, but doesn’t need to stop you.

9. Women’s Literary Cafe – This is something totally new to me: A consortium devoted to supporting authors in their quest to find readers. What a kewl idea, that totally deserves kudos.

10. Mystery Writing is Murder – Elizabeth Spann Craig‘s daily efforts at collecting writing tips and contributing them to a Writer’s Knowledge Base is beyond admirable, and fully worthy of many rounds of applause; she really knows how to pay it forward to other writers.

11. Feral Intensity – The writer/publisher who started me down this road more than two years ago now: Gayla, stand up and take a bow, I wouldn’t have done this without you.

13. The Bookshelf Muse – Becca Puglisi and Angela Ackerman have pulled together an extensive collection of prompts and other thoughts for writers. The first one I saw greeted me with a picture of Han Solo, and I was instantly smitten. 😉

15. Kait Nolan – You may remember her from the author interview I did a while back (or my review of her book Red), but she’s definitely someone I enjoy following, both for her gluten-free (and general gourmand cooking) as well as for another perspective on an author who has to work out the balance between a day job and the joy of writing.

And now it’s back to trying to catch up with my own Nanowrimo word count. Wish me luck!